are good views down adjacent valleys to the Richter Hut, the Zittauer Hut and back down to the Plauener Hut, then across the void to the Warnsdorfer Hut and Venediger Group. While on the summit look for the charred remains of the old wooden cross which was burnt to a crisp by a lightning strike – such is the raw power of nature.
Apart from weather considerations, the main risk is of over-extending oneself by trying to climb both mountains in the day when not fit enough.
In terms of climbing, the glacier crossing is straightforward without serious crevasse danger. However once on the ridges, climbing is very exposed with jaw-dropping exposure in a couple of places while negotiating steep difficult broken ground, which is more problematic in descent.
STAGE 2
Plauener Hut to Birnlucken Hut
| Start | Plauener Hut |
| Finish | Birnlucken Hut |
| Distance | 12km |
| Total Ascent | A lot of up and down |
| Time | 7hrs |
This mountain journey is characterised simply as being a long way. The standard time is 7hrs which is fine if you are fit, however if you are carrying a big bag allow all day, be on your way early and telephone the Birnlucken hut to book a bed.
This is a splendid long-distance promenade through fabulous scenery with nice little challenges thrown in. The scenic interest early in the day is dominated by the Rauchkofel (3252m) which may take its name for its rough-jagged ridges, or maybe because of the way the cloud hangs from its north face like woodsmoke, hence the name, ‘Smoking Mountain’; my preference is for the latter.
Thereafter the route becomes hemmed in as the head of the Zillergrundl narrows until the crossing of the Geistjochl (2708m) into Italy, when the Ahrntal valley opens up. Hereafter the route picks up a trail traversing the mountainside, crossing four spurs, each quite steep and each protected by fixed wire ropes to aid stability.
After crossing the second ridge the rest of the journey is scenically dominated by the vastness of the Drei Herrn Spitz or Picco del tre Signori (3498m) with its jagged ridges and hanging glaciers.
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